U.S. patent number 4,236,191 [Application Number 05/872,576] was granted by the patent office on 1980-11-25 for illuminated musical instrument.
Invention is credited to Fredy R. Martinez.
United States Patent |
4,236,191 |
Martinez |
November 25, 1980 |
Illuminated musical instrument
Abstract
Grooves or channels are formed along the edges, and/or at other
selected locations, of a guitar, of other musical instruments; as
might be done in purfling and binding for such instrument. A
fiber-optic bundle is laid into the groove and overlayed with a
veneer of suitable wood, or other appropriate materials, but in
such a manner that ends of selected fibers are aligned with and/or
extend through suitable apertures formed through the veneer
overlay. The individual fiber-optic bundles are then gathered into
a main fiber-optic trunk line which is directed through an entry
channel and away from the instrument; terminating at a source of
illumination. The source of illumination includes a light source in
the form of a conventional light bulb and a color wheel formed with
sections of different colors which are successively interposed
between the light source and the end of the fiber-optic bundle;
such that light from the light source passes through each colored
section and illuminates the fibers of the bundle with the color of
that section of the wheel. The light travels along the fibers and
shows at the fiber ends distributed around the instrument. The
wheel is such that it rotates due to the heat generated by the
light bulb, but a suitable motor and controls may also be provided
to rotate the color wheel. Appropriate controls are also provided
to vary the intensity of the light and to otherwise control
same.
Inventors: |
Martinez; Fredy R. (Santurce,
PR) |
Family
ID: |
25359882 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/872,576 |
Filed: |
January 26, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/554; 362/86;
84/464A |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/0005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
8/00 (20060101); F21V 007/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;362/32,31,29,84,86,95,255,249,251,28,29 ;84/464,464A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Padgett; Benjamin R.
Assistant Examiner: Barr; J. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Feldman; Marvin Feldman; Stephen
E.
Claims
I claim:
1. The method of decorating a musical guitar instrument;
comprising:
(a) providing purfling grooves in said guitar;
(b) disposing a fiber-optic bundle along a predetermined path in
said purfling groves to follow the guitar shape and in proximity to
a predetermined surface of said guitar instrument;
(c) disposing the separate ends of individual fibers of said
fiber-optic bundle adjacent the surface of said instrument so that
light carried by said individual fibers will be directed towards
said predetermined surface of said musical instrument;
(d) providing a source of illumination for said fiber-optic bundle;
and
(e) illuminating said fiber-optic bundle and said ends of said
individual fibers to thereby illuminate in a decorative manner said
musical instrument.
2. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 1,
including disposing a covering surface over said grooves after said
fiber-optic bundles are disposed therein.
3. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 2,
including providing apertures through said covering surface
proximate said ends of said individual fibers.
4. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 3,
including threading individual ends of said fibers each through one
of said apertures.
5. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 4,
including forming said predetermined path proximate the edges of
said musical instrument.
6. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 1,
including providing a means for changing the color of the light
illuminating said fibers of said fiber-optic bundle.
7. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 6,
including providing said means for changing the color of the light
by providing a color wheel in proximity to said source of
illumination.
8. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 7,
including forming said color wheel with a plurality of individual
and different colors.
9. The method of decorating a musical instrument of claim 8,
including providing means to rotate said color wheel.
10. A decorated musical guitar instrument; comprising:
(a) a musical guitar instrument and a fiber-optic bundle disposed
along a predetermined path in purfling grooves to follow the guitar
shape and in proximity to a predetermined surface of the
guitar;
(b) said surface being formed with means to separately receive ends
of said fibers so that light carried by said fibers will be
directed towards said predetermined surface of said musical
instrument;
(c) a source of illumination for said fiber-optic bundle to
illuminate said fiber-optic bundle and said ends of said individual
fibers to thereby illuminate in a decorative manner said musical
instrument; and
(d) further comprising means to provide a plurality of individual
and different colors to the ends of said individual fibers.
11. The musical instrument of claim 10, said means to provide
colors being disposed outside the instrument and being connected to
the instrument by said fiber-optic bundle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-FIELD OF APPLICATION
This invention relates to musical instruments; and more
particularly to decoration and ornamentation for such musical
instruments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Most musical instruments present a pleasing and aesthetic
appearance due to the materials from which they are made or the
natural shape of the instrument itself. However, when an instrument
is to be utilized in the world of show business it is often
desirable to make the instrument otherwise outstanding. In doing
so, the instrument may be painted with designs or have designs
otherwise applied as by decal. Some instruments have designs
applied by using sequins. However, decals, painting, and sequins
may rub off in the normal course of using the instrument. If only a
part of the design wears off the instrument will look quite shabby
and will not be presentable for public use. Refinishing the design
can be very expensive and will place the instrument out of service.
In addition, many instruments are played in a dark or dimly lit
atmosphere and most of the available designs and decorations will
only show up advantageously in a well lit environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and
improved musical instrument.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and
improved decorative design for a musical instrument.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and
improved illuminated decorative design for a musical
instrument.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a new and
improved method of decorating a musical instrument.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a new
and improved method of decorating a musical instrument with
multi-colored and illuminated lights.
This invention involves musical instruments and contemplates
embedding in the material of the instrument, at selected stratigic
locations, fiber-optic bundles such that first ends of the
individual fibers are disposed in a predetermined array and
configuration; and such that the other ends of the fibers are
disposed in a bundle and proximate a source of illumination. When
the source of illumination is turned on, the light appears at said
first ends of the individual fibers to present to the viewers an
aesthetically pleasing illuminated design on and about the musical
instrument.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention in its
details of construction and arrangement of parts will be seen from
the above, from the following description of the preferred
embodiment when considered with the drawings and from the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a musical instrument, in the
form of a guitar, incorporating the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the end of the
guitar showing the fiber-optic bundle connection to the
instrument;
FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the disposition
of individual fibers of the fiber-optic bundle of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic showing of the source of
illumination for the illuminated guitar of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For convenience the invention will be described as applied to a
musical instrument in the form of a guitar that has been grooved as
in purfling operation. Fiber-optic bundles are set into the grooves
with individual fibers extended into apertures formed through a
veneer overlaying the grooves and the fiber-optic bundle disposed
therein. The bundles are gathered into a main trunk which is, in
turn, disposed in proximity to a multicolored wheel illuminated by
a light bulb. It should be understood, nevertheless, that without
departing from the scope of this invention, that the musical
instrument need not be a guitar but may be a mandolin, violin,
viola, bass fidel, or the like; that the grooves or channels may be
formed by any convenient and appropriate method; that the
illumination may be white, any particular color, or of many colors
as desired.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is generally shown at 10, a musical
instrument in the form of a guitar having a main portion or body 12
from which there extends a neck or finger board 14. Body 12
includes a top surface or table 20, bottom surface 22 and
peripheral or side surface 24 all to the normally guitar
configuration. A fiber-optic trunk or main bundle 30 extends from a
source of illumination 32 into an entry passageway 34 (FIG. 2)
formed in side surface 24 of guitar 10.
Fiber-optic trunk or main bundle 30 is, in turn, divided into a
plurality of fiber-optic sub-bundles 40, 42, 44 which are layed
into grooves or channels 50, 52, 54. Grooves 50, 52, 54 may be
formed by the conventional process known as purfling or by any
other convenient and appropriate method. Such grooves 50, 52, 54
are formed about the upper periphery of guitar 10, about the
periphery of side wall 24 proximate bottom wall 22, at the far end
of neck 14, about the periphery of sound hole 60, and at any other
suitable location such as at area 62 of top surface 20.
After grooves 50, 52, 54 have been cut into their respective
surfaces the fiber-optic bundles 40, 42, 44 etc., are layed in
place and covered over by a covering surface 70, 72, etc., of wood
veneer; or such fiber-optic bundles are disposed in place by other
and appropriately suitable covering means. Apertures 80 are formed
in a predetermined array through covering surface 70, 72 and ends
82 of individual fibers are either threaded therethrough or are
otherwise disposed in proximity thereto.
Main bundle 30 is suitably connected to source of illumination 32
which is provided with a light bulb 90 disposed in a socket 92
electrically interconnected to a conductor 94 fitted with a plug 96
for interconnection to a source of suitable power. A line switch 98
is provided in conductor 94 for turning source of illumination 32
on and off. A color wheel 100 carrying a plurality transparent
colored areas 102 formed of glass or suitable plastic, is mounted
for rotation proximate light bulb 90. Wheel 100 is formed in
conventional manner to rotate in response to the heat given off by
bulb 90. Alternatively, wheel 100 can be disposed for co-operation
with a motor (not shown) and with suitable controls to provide for
rotation of wheel 100. Suitable switches 110 and controls 112, 114,
are provided for source of illumination 32 to control the intensity
of light bulb 90 and other characteristics of the light from source
32.
In utilizing the device source of illumination, 32 is
interconnected to guitar 10 by main bundle 30 which may be secured
to guitar 10 by an adjustable member 120 (FIG. 2). Source of
illumination 32 is then plugged into a source of electricity and
switch 98 turned on. Light travels from bulb 90 through the
individual elements of the various fiber-optic bundles; appearing
at ends 82 all about guitar 10. As wheel 100 rotates, the color of
the light changes providing a very pleasing and aesthetic effect
about guitar 10.
From the above description it will thus be seen that there has been
provided a novel and improved decoration for a musical instrument
which decoration illuminates a selected and predetermined pattern
on and about the instrument in a pleasing and aesthetic manner.
It is understood that although I have shown the preferred form of
my invention that various modifications may be made in the details
thereof without departing from the spirit as comprehended by the
following claims.
* * * * *